New Frontier Lab

Apply and Attend

• New Frontier Story Lab

  Application	Public submissions for the 2020 New Frontier Story Lab were open from August 8 to October 1. For 2021 submissions please check back in the summer of 2020.
  Dates	May 14–19, 2020
  Size of Lab	6 projects
  Location	Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah
  Eligibility	We look for projects that fit the following criteria: The project tells or co-creates a fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid story (or stories). The project provides a point or points of entry via one or more creative disciplines (broadly defined—for example, film, gaming, theatre, music, visual arts, creative coding/robotics, literature, design, and web/mobile native arts). The project should make a case for how it is innovating on the art and form of story by using new/emerging technologies and platforms to enable the creation of story. The project innovates story design by using new/emerging technologies and platforms to enable the creation of story. The project is a work in progress with at least one component of its story design in advanced development. Applicants must have completed some previous work in one or more fields related to their project. International projects will be considered, but all project materials must be provided in English.
  Description	With an emphasis on story, this lab supports artists who are developing interactive, immersive, or experimental projects that aim to create rich and resonant experiences for audiences. The New Frontier Story Lab is open to a wide variety of storytelling disciplines, forms, and story designs.

• New Frontier Artist Residency Program

  Application	Invitation only. Fellows are selected from New Frontier alumni pool.
  Dates	Varies
  Size of Lab	Varies
  Location	Varies
  Eligibility	New Frontier alumni artists
  Description	Since 2007, New Frontier has cultivated an alumni community of inventive minds, creative technologists, and talented storytellers from a variety of backgrounds. Just like the innovators at the dawn of the film age, New Frontier alumni are creating language, forms, and methodologies that will become the standard for the future storyteller. The Artist Residency Program is designed to match New Frontier alumni with sponsor organizations that are also working to pioneer the field by creating tools, providing platforms, congregating communities or audiences, sharing the learning, developing content and experiences, cultivating talent, or utilizing storytelling methodology in their delivery of products and services. During the residency, a New Frontier artist or artist collective will work with the sponsor organization’s internal team (such as technologists, designers, content developers, researchers, community engagement officers, etc.), grantee partners, or other stakeholders to concept or develop a project that aims to push the boundaries of story in some manner.

• Public Sessions and Artist Intensives

  Application	Public. No application.
  Dates	Varies
  Size of Lab	Up to two hundred (varies due to venue)
  Location	Varies
  Eligibility	U.S. and international creators
  Description	The New Frontier Public Sessions and Artist Intensives are designed to share this learning gained through the New Frontier programs with creative communities, to inspire participants to expand their creative practices or innovate within their organizations, and to further their contribution to the evolution of story. Explore field-defining projects, Discuss the technological and cultural shifts that enabled these projects, Learn about emerging creative practices and tools, and Be in direct conversation with New Frontier pioneers.
  Next Public Session	Our last public session was in St. Paul, Minnesota, September 2019.

• Still Have Questions? Read Our FAQ.

  New Frontier Story Lab Application Process FAQ

  Is the New Frontier Story Lab open to anyone that wants to apply?

  Yes, the application is open to anyone who wants to apply. The 2016 lab was the first New Frontier Story Lab open to outside applicants, all previous years were invitation only.

  What is the application process?

  Public submissions for the 2020 New Frontier Story Lab were open from August 8 to October 1. For 2021 submissions please check back in the summer of 2020.

  The application is a three step process:

  First, complete the electronic application.

  Sign in or create a new account to access the electronic application. Choose the New Frontier tab to access the Story Lab application. In the application form you will provide your contact info, brief bio(s), a synopsis of the project, and a short essay response about your artistic intentions.

  Please Note: The email address you provide when you create an account will be the only one mode of communication we will use to contact you between submission and the final decision. Therefore we recommend you ensure that NewFrontierStoryLab@sundance.org is cleared in your spam filter!

  Second, upload additional materials:

  • A Story Design Document (PDF, 10-page limit) that provides information about your timeline, storyworld architecture, user experience/user interface, and visual material or any other framework/asset that communicates your story design.
  • Optional: Any additional assets not included elsewhere via links or Story Design that are essential to the understanding/evaluation of the project (photos, videos, etc.).

  
  

  Third, pay the $45 application fee.

  Can I start an application and save it and come back to finish it later?

  Yes. You will have a chance to save a work-in-progress version of your application before officially submitting.

  Can I deliver my application in person, or via mail or email?

  We accept all application materials electronically via the online application submission system only. Materials are disseminated to the selection committee electronically via the application system. Not only are projects not accepted in-person or via email, submitting via these methods would increase a project’s chances of loss or of incorrect versions being considered in review. Contact us if you are having technical difficulty at NewFrontierStoryLab@sundance.org.

  Then What?

  You will hear back from us via email on or before April 1, 2020, letting you know if you have been selected for the New Frontier Story Lab. We will respond to every applicant, whether they are selected or not. *Note: dates subject to variation.

  Here is the timeline for application review:

  • August 8, 2019—Application opens
  • October 1, 2019—Deadline for application submission
  • November 20, 2019 - Round two notifications
  • November 22, 2019—Round two additional materials submissions deadline
  • March 4, 2020—Round three notifications
  • March 2–12, 2020—Round three interviews
  • April 1, 2020—Final status notifications
  • May 14–19, 2020—Lab week

  Please note: Unfortunately, due to the amount of submissions, we cannot provide individual feedback.

  Other FAQs

  1. What stage of project development is most conducive to success in the lab environment? An eligible project is a story-centered work in progress with at least one component of its story design in advanced development. There should be enough concept and story for meaningful discussion; but the project should not be so advanced that there is no room for new ideas to impact the future shape of the project.
  2. What happens at the lab? New Frontier invites six story-centered projects to the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah for a five-day-long immersive Story Lab experience with a group of leading artists, designers, filmmakers, storytellers, technologists, and innovators in the field. After identifying the unique needs of each selected project, the Sundance Institute will source leading creative advisors to provide individualized feedback and will create a customized agenda of activities to support the development of the projects. The lab will include the following elements with an emphasis on storytelling:
     • Project presentations with full group feedback (lab fellows and advisors).
     • Individualized story and story-design sessions.
     • Conversations about key artistic, design, and technology issues that relate to story.
     • Presentations, demonstrations, and conversation about the evolving field of New Frontier: case studies from creative advisors, research on field opportunities and challenges, and best practices and lessons learned in concept, design, production, audience/co-creator engagement, and implementation.
     • Please note that while technical elements are certainly discussed as part of the story design, the lab will not focus on active prototyping or technical production while on-site in May.
  3. How many projects are selected? We invite a total of six story-centered projects to participate in the lab. Broadly defined, we accept three narrative and three documentary projects. We do consider hybrid narrative/documentary projects.
  4. How many collaborators from each project can attend the lab? A maximum of two members from each selected project may attend the lab.
  5. Do participants pay for travel and accommodation? Air travel, ground transportation, accommodations, and meals are all covered by Sundance Institute.
  6. What happens after the lab? After the New Frontier Story Lab, fellows will participate in a strategic planning consultation to outline a roadmap for successfully completing their projects. Then, fellows will have strategic check-in sessions as needed and semi-annually with New Frontier staff and advisors until they close their projects. If appropriate, projects supported through the lab will be considered by New Frontier at the Sundance Film Festival as a way to platform the new work and provide a direct audience component for expanding the boundaries of immersive experience. See more detail under “continuum of support.”
  7. Certain components of my project are not ready yet. Does that hurt my application’s chances? We work with “in-progress” projects and do not expect finished elements. For multiplatform works, at least one component of its story design should be in advanced development.
  8. I don't have much experience. Does that affect my application’s chances? Applicants may be early-career or emerging artists, but they must have completed some previous work in one or more fields related to their project.
  9. I am an established artist. Am I too advanced in my career to apply? No. Unlike other Sundance Institute labs, the Story Lab accepts projects from artists or storytellers with advanced careers, as long as they are an independent artist working to innovate the art and form of story.
  10. A particular application section doesn’t apply to my project. Does that mean my project is not aligned with the New Frontier Story Lab? What kind of project is aligned with the New Frontier Story Lab? Not all sections will apply to everyone due to the wide variety of story-centered projects considered. A project aligned with the New Frontier Story Lab tells or co-creates a fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid story (or stories). Stories do not have to be linear and can evolve inside the storyworld or story experience of the project, rather than be predetermined. Projects must be a work of an artist or storymaker or a collective of artists or storymakers. Concepts for story-enabling tools, technology or platforms meant to be a product, or service for a community or consumer base are not appropriate. Projects without a narrative or story (broadly defined) are not appropriate. They should provide an entry point from one or more creative disciplines (such as film, gaming, theatre, music, visual arts, creative coding, biotech, connected objects, AI, robotics, comics, literature, design, web/mobile arts, etc.). The project should make a case for how it is innovating on the art and form of story by using new/emerging technologies and platforms to enable the creation of story. We are excited by a very wide range of projects!
  11. How many projects can I apply with? Because we want “front-burner” projects that applicants are enthusiastic about completing, you may submit up to two projects in separate applications.
  12. Can I reapply with the same project next year? You are eligible to apply more than once with a given project, provided there has been a significant development since the last submission.
  13. How long/short is too long/short for a project proposal? The application material should give the reviewers sufficient information to understand the project. However, overly detailed materials will not necessarily help communicate the value of your project. In fact, that approach may bog down the exciting and pertinent details of your project. The project synopsis is a maximum of one thousand words; the Story Design Document is five pages or less (including visual and text components).
  14. Would my submitted ideas be protected? Information submitted is only used for review purposes and will not be shared beyond the selected readers and selection committee members.
  15. Do you accept projects that have been submitted elsewhere? Yes.
  16. Does Sundance Institute own my project? No. Sundance Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and does not have an ownership stake in any projects that are submitted to or selected for the lab, nor are we attached in any producorial capacity. However, in order to help sustain Sundance Institute’s commitment to supporting independent artists going forward, selected lab projects whose income exceeds $500,000 agree to give back 1 percent of receipts to Sundance Institute. If the fellow(s) sell the project to a third party, they also commit 1 percent of the sale price back to Sundance Institute. All lab fellows must own or have approval from the project owner to participate in the New Frontier Lab.
  17. What kind of grants/support/production help can Sundance Institute offer our project? The lab is a robust weeklong creative and supportive experience, followed by a continuum of support for alumni of the program. The lab is not directly attached to granting funds, nor are we attached in any producorial capacity; however, we do recommend fellows for granting opportunities when appropriate.
  18. Can international artists or projects apply? Yes. International projects will be considered, but all project materials must be provided in English.
  19. Why haven’t I received my notification yet, but all my friends have?! What’s wrong?? When will I know if I’ve made it to the next round? Our notifications are made on a rolling basis. You will hear whether you have proceeded to the second round of the application process by December 1, 2019, at the latest. Final lab decisions will be made by April 1, 2020.
  20. Are fee waivers available? While we understand artists generally keep an eye on their budgets, we do not offer waivers, as the application fee is thoughtfully derived to help cover the high cost of thoroughly reviewing your application. There may be a very limited number of exceptions for those who can demonstrate unusual economic hardship. If you feel you have an appropriately unusual economic constraint, please contact NewFrontierStoryLab@sundance.org with further information.
  21. Is it New Frontiers (plural) or New Frontier (singular)? Singular ... New Frontier. :)

  Still don't see your question answered here? Email newfrontierstorylab@sundance.org with further questions.